Tuesday, March 24, 2009

EPA is awarding approximately$800,000 in grants to organizations working with communities facing environmental justice challenges throughout the country. Forty grants, up to $20,000 each, are going to community-based organizations and local and tribal governments in 28 states for community projects aimed at addressing environmental and public health issues.

The projects will address a variety of issues including:

· educating youth about the harmful effects of toxicsubstances such as asbestos and lead paint in Chicago;

· identifying air pollutants from truck emissions and othersources at Port Newark in New Brunswick, N.J.;

· ensuring that citizens of Barrow, Alaska have a voice inthe decision making on local oil and gas development projects;

Financial assistance under the environmental justice small grants program is available to all non-profit organizations designated by the IRS or recognized by the state, territory, commonwealth or tribe in which it is located; city, township, county government and their entities; or federally recognized Native American tribal governments. In the 15 years since initiating the environmental justice small grants program, EPA has awarded more than $20 million in funding to assist 1,130 community-based organizations and local and tribal governments. For more information on the grants program

Friday, March 20, 2009

Please take a few moments to review the monthly State of Environmental Justice in America 2009 Conference Newsletter.

This month's issue details the latest plans for the conference, including a Health Disparities Workshop featuring guest speaker Congresswoman Donna M.Christensen, and the new Meet the Agencies event.

Registration information for the conference, to be held at Howard University Schoolof Law in Washington, DC, on May 27, 2009, and the Crystal CityDoubletree Hotel in Arlington, Virginia, on May 28 and 29, can be foundin this month's newsletter.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Attached you will find a 2009 National Environmental Public Health Conference Request for Abstract Reviewers. Completed forms should be returned to nephc2009@cdc.gov by April 17, 2009. Please circulate this form to individuals who you think might be interested in participating in abstract review for the conference. I’m grateful for your continued support of the 2009 National Environmental Public Health Conference.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

"None of the funds made available by this Act may be used in contravention of, or to delay the implementation of, Executive Order No. 12898 of February 11, 1994 (59 Fed. Reg. 7629; relating to Federal actions to address environmental justice in minority populations and low-incomepopulations)."

H.R. 1105 making omnibus appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009.

Agriculture — $20.5 billion, including a 14 percent boost over 2008 for the popular WIC program that feeds infants and poor women.Commerce — $9.3 billion, including $3.1 billion to conduct the 2010 Census.

Friday, March 6, 2009

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that applications are now being accepted for the eighth annual National Award for Smart Growth Achievement. This competition is open to public-sector or private sector applicants that have used the principles of smart growth to create better places. Private-sector applicants are encouraged to submit applications for projects that demonstrate a significant public-private partnership. Smart growth development serves the economy, the community, and the environment.

Smart growth approaches to development create clear environmental benefits, including improved air and water quality, preservation of critical habitat and open space, and more cleanup and re-use of brownfield sites. This year, applications will be accepted in five categories:

· Built Projects

· Policies and Regulations

· Smart Growth and Green Building

· Smart Growth Streets

· Overall Excellence in Smart Growth

Interested parties are encouraged to submit applications for smart growth activities that have shown significant activity between April 23,2004, and April 23, 2009. Successful applicants will have incorporated the principles of smart growth to create places that respect community culture and the environment, foster economic development, and enhance quality of life and public health.

This year, the public sector winners will receive support for further implementing smart growth strategies in their communities. In addition, public sector winners will receive one complementary registration to the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference in 2010. Applications are due on April 23, 2009. Up to five winners will be recognized at a ceremony in Washington, DC in December 2009. For more details about the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement (including an application packet)

EJ Conference Contact

Statement of Purpose

Mission and goals of conferences: The EJ conferences bring together individuals interested in environmental justice from diverse groups at this noteworthy juncture in the history of environmental justice, through a process of dialogue and learning from each other. The conference seeks to bring together federal employees, academics, business and industry, non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, local community activists and others to participate in dialog on achieving equality of environmental protection. The conference will serve as an academic legal conference to advance scholarship regarding environmental justice.

Disclaimer

The views expressed on this blog are strictly those of the moderator and commenters. Nothing contained on this blog represents the views or official positions of the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Interior, Howard University, National Small Town Alliance, or any of the other cosponsors or coordinator of the conference.

Sensitivity Statement

"Because of the chemical sensivity of many people, we are encouraging attendees not to wear scented toiletry items."